17 years old, Transdniestria re-affirms its independent spirit

Celebrations took place in the same building where Pridnestrovie's independence was proclaimed 17 years ago

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - In a mass meeting held Saturday to celebrate the 17th anniversary of Pridnestrovie's declaration of independence, leaders in Tiraspol stood firm on independence and their wish for discussing the issue with neighboring Moldova. At the same time, they appealed to the international community for help in lifting the economic embargo which Moldova has imposed against Pridnestrovie since March of 2006.

" - We are ready to discuss status settlement and relations with Chisinau, but dialogue is impossible under conditions of constant pressure," stated Pridnestrovie's President. He also noted that status settlement vis-a-vis Moldova would not make Pridnestrovie part of Moldova or end its "de facto" independence. "It is necessary to search for a different outcome," said Smirnov, "while taking into account the opinion of the population of Pridnestrovie."

It is widely known than Pridnestrovie's population supports independence and sovereign statehood by an overwhelming majority. Even the ethnic Moldovans in Pridnestrovie are mostly in favor of independence. Few of them have any desire to join their ethnic kin in Moldova within a unified state.

All ethnic groups support independence

Also known as Transnistria or Transdniester, the unrecognized country is home to a majority Slavic population. Non-Slavs make up a third of the 550,000 residents, with Moldovans forming a plurality. Unlike ex-Yugoslav trouble spots like Bosnia and Kosovo, there is no ethnic conflict in Pridnestrovie. A total of 35 ethnic groups who reside in the country are united in their desire for independent statehood.

" - Little by little, the international community is beginning to understand that any solution to unrecognized countries must be of a universal nature," said Smirnov, who has repeatedly stated that Pridnestrovie has a stronger legal and historical claim to independent statehood than Kosovo.

From 1924 to its abolishment in 1940, the bulk of Pridnestrovie's territory was an autonomous republic with Tiraspol as its capital. It was then used as a beachhead for grabbing part of Romania, upon which Stalin created the MSSR within the Soviet Union and moved the capital to Chisinau. When Moldova declared independence in 1991, it denounced the merger with Pridnestrovie - and, by extension, with the Soviet Union - as "null and void from the beginning." In contrast, Serbia never denounced its union with Kosovo as null and void at any time in history.

Local politicians also ruled out a change in the current peacekeeping format until after the issue of status settlement has been solved.

" - The operation, which they carry out, is standard in international practice ", stated Igor Smirnov. "Therefore it doesn't make sense to talk about making any changes to the current format."

The mass celebration ceremony took place in the same building where Pridnestrovie's independence was proclaimed 17 years ago, in the capital city Tiraspol.

See also:
» For Transdnister, status settlement talks with Moldova will be about independence
» Kosovo independence gives equal rights to Pridnestrovie; other unrecognized countries